Pointers to Review: Reading and Writing Skills
I. Thinking Skills and Critical Reading
• Critical Thinking involves analyzing information, evaluating sources, and making logical
judgments before accepting ideas as true.
• Non-critical Thinking happens when a person accepts information without questioning its
validity or accuracy.
• Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) include comparing viewpoints, making generalizations, and
analyzing texts deeply.
• Lower-Order Thinking Skills (LOTS) involve recalling, memorizing, and understanding
information without deeper analysis.
• In Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy:
o LOTS: Remembering, Understanding, Applying
o HOTS: Analyzing, Evaluating, Creating
II. Reading Strategies
• Previewing: Looking at titles, headings, and visuals before reading to get an idea of the
content.
• Summarizing: Condensing a text by focusing on main ideas and key supporting details.
• Inferential Reading: Making conclusions based on clues in the text (e.g., "The ground was wet,
so it must have rained earlier").
• Literal Reading: Understanding the text at face value without looking for hidden meanings.
• Rapid Reading Techniques:
o Skimming: Quickly looking for main ideas.
o Scanning: Searching for specific information (e.g., a date or a name in a passage).
• Remedial Reading: Focused reading strategies for improving comprehension and fluency in
struggling readers.
III. Graphic Organizers and Text Structures
• Idea Map: A visual tool for brainstorming and organizing thoughts on a topic.
• Graphic Organizer: Represents concepts, ideas, and relationships visually (e.g., concept maps,
flowcharts).
• Venn Diagram: Used to compare and contrast two subjects by showing their similarities and
differences.
• Problem-Solution Map: Shows a problem, its causes and effects, and possible solutions.
• Fishbone Diagram: Helps in analyzing the root causes of a problem.
• Cycle Diagram: Shows repeating processes (e.g., the life cycle of a butterfly or the carbon
cycle).
• Linear Timeline: Displays a sequence of events in chronological order.
• Plot Diagram: Breaks down a story into exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and
resolution.
IV. Patterns of Development in Writing
1. Definition: Explains a concept in detail.
o Example: Cultural appropriation refers to the adoption of elements from another culture
without proper understanding or respect for its significance.
2. Exemplification: Provides examples to clarify a concept.
o Example: There are different forms of renewable energy, such as solar energy, wind
power, and hydropower.
3. Description: Uses sensory details to depict a person, place, or thing.
o Example: The old library smelled of aged books and dust, with wooden shelves that
stretched to the ceiling.
4. Chronology/Procedure: Lists steps in a process or events in order.
o Example: To bake a cake, first preheat the oven, then mix the ingredients, pour the
batter into a pan, and bake for 30 minutes.
5. Listing: Presents items or ideas without a strict order.
o Example: Essential camping gear includes a tent, sleeping bag, flashlight, first-aid kit,
and extra food supplies.
6. Comparison-Contrast: Highlights similarities and differences.
o Example: While traditional books provide a tactile reading experience, e-books offer
convenience and portability.
7. Classification and Division: Categorizes a topic into subgroups.
o Example: There are three types of learners: visual learners, auditory learners, and
kinesthetic learners.
8. Cause and Effect: Shows relationships between actions and consequences.
o Example: Due to excessive deforestation, many animal species lose their natural
habitat, leading to biodiversity loss.
9. Problem-Solution: Identifies an issue and proposes solutions.
o Example: Traffic congestion in the city can be reduced by implementing carpooling
programs and improving public transportation.
10. Persuasion: Presents arguments to convince the reader.
o Example: Schools should implement financial literacy courses to prepare students for
real-world financial responsibilities.
